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Fix This Rotted Rancher | Season 7

Written by Jenny Marrs on . Posted in , .

This project was extra special because we got to work with our friends and neighbors, the Leggs. We first met Matt and Laura when our dog, Jack, kept wandering over to their land to visit their dog. Before long, our kids were playing together, and we quickly learned that Matt and Laura are just the sweetest, friendliest neighbors.

The Leggs have nine acres with two houses on the property. They live in one and had started renovating the smaller home for Laura’s parents, Tom and Debbie. They had already gutted much of the house and taken down a few walls when they realized the project was bigger than they expected and wanted some help. We were more than happy to jump in!

Exterior

BEFORE

Built in the 1970s, the house was ready for some big updates. The Leggs weren’t fans of the red-orange roof, and while they loved the original stone, we knew there wouldn’t be enough to wrap around the home once we expanded it. So we opted for all new siding instead.

We moved the front door so it no longer opened into the kitchen, added a gable above it, installed all new windows, replaced the siding, extended the house into the covered carport, replaced the roof, freshened up the landscaping, and painted everything a gorgeous deep green that gives it the feel of a cozy cabin in the woods.

Since we lost the stone from the main wall, we brought charm back in other ways — leaving the stone on the chimney and hanging the family’s original dinner bell in the front yard. The Leggs had kept that bell from Laura’s childhood — the same one Laura’s mother would ring to call her father in from the farm for dinner. We modernized it just a bit by swapping the fraying rope for a custom horse lead from a local equestrian supply shop.

AFTER

SOURCES

Flag | Allegiance Flag Supply

Exterior Lanterns | Lowes

Windows | Cornerstone – Simonton

French Door | Plygem by Cornerstone

Siding & Trim Paint Color | Sherwin Williams Foxhall Green

Front Door, Soffit, Facia, Gutters & Shutter Paint Color | Sherwin Williams Retreat

Family Room

BEFORE

Once we started working inside, we discovered the floors were rotting and unstable. It meant removing all of the original flooring in this room — and throughout the house — and installing new floor joists. Now, with the new floor and new large windows, this space feels so much bigger and brighter than before.

AFTER

SOURCES

Ceiling Fan | Kichler

Furniture | Howse

Flooring | Tarkett

Art | Juniper Print Shop

Wall Paint Color | Sherwin Williams Natural Choice

Dining Area

BEFORE

The Leggs wanted to keep the fireplace’s original stone, but it felt dark and the orange tones made the whole space feel dated. We filled in the mortar with a lighter shade, gave the stone a soft whitewash, and added a white oak mantel to brighten everything up while still keeping that nice texture.

Dave built the dining table out of elm wood, and I absolutely love how it turned out. It’s the perfect size for the room, with that old-country charm that feels just right in this space.

AFTER

SOURCES

Flooring | Tarkett 

Art | Vintage

Wall Paint Color | Sherwin Williams Natural Choice

Kitchen

BEFORE

This tiny kitchen has everything Laura and Matt need — a small island with seating, new appliances, fresh white countertops, and white upper cabinets paired with dark green lowers that add warmth and depth to the space.

AFTER

SOURCES

Range Hood | THOR

Refrigerator | THOR

Dishwasher | THOR

Microwave Drawer | THOR

Pendants | GreenRow

Countertops | Santa Margherita

Cabinets | Premiere Wood Concepts

Cabinet Knobs | Amazon

Art | Juniper Print Shop

Flooring | Tarkett

Wall Paint Color | Sherwin Williams Natural Choice

Upper Cabinet Paint Color | Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter

Lower Cabinet Paint Color | Sherwin Williams Pewter Green

Primary Bedroom

BEFORE

Laura and Matt asked for darker colors in their bedroom, so we painted the walls, ceiling, and doors in one deep, rich tone. Paired with their vintage pieces, the room feels cozy, layered, and like the perfect place to unwind at the end of the day.

AFTER

SOURCES

Furniture | Howse

Ceiling Fan | Kichler

Flooring | Tarkett

Art | Vintage

Wall Paint Color | Benjamin Moore French Beret

Primary Bathroom

BEFORE

We didn’t have a lot of space to work with, but it turned out just right. The green-painted wood siding along the walls ties beautifully to the kitchen cabinets and the exterior of the home, creating a sense of continuity throughout. Laura loved the white tile in the shower and the gold fixtures, and of course, we included that cute old light that originally hung in the kitchen.

AFTER

SOURCES

Sconce | Shades of Light

Mirrors | Amazon

Countertop | Santa Margherita

Cabinets | Premiere Wood Concepts

Cabinet Pulls | Amazon

Cabinet Knobs | Amazon

Floor Tile | Daltile

Shower Wall Tile | Daltile

Art | Vintage

Wainscoating & Door Trim Paint Color | Benjamin Moore Dark Olive

Wall Paint Color | Farrow & Ball Drop Cloth

Back Porch

BEFORE

Replacing the back porch was so important to the Leggs. With all that beautiful farmland, you need a place to sit and take it in, especially when you can do it alongside your grandkids.

And of course, what’s a porch without a swing? Dave built a large one and added the sweetest detail. Tom and Debbie love horses — Tom is a large animal veterinarian — so Dave crafted wooden horseshoes, carved each grandchild’s name into them, and attached them to the swing. It’s such a meaningful little reminder of the people they love most.

AFTER

SOURCES

Exterior Lanterns | Lowes

Picket Railing System | Regal Ideas

Porch Swing | Dave Marrs

Siding, Trim & French Door Paint Color | Sherwin Williams Foxhall Green

Soffit, Facia, Gutters & Shutter Paint Color | Sherwin Williams Retreat